While in some way it seems that owner Anders Strom has only been involved in North American Harness Racing for the last five years or so, the native of Sweden actually got started back in 2008 and is steadily building a strong broodmare band and stallion contingent as his horses continue to compete on the big stage in marquee races. With horses like past champions Greenshoe, Gimpanzee and Hypnotic Am, along with 2021 standout 2-year-old trotting filly Joviality S, Strom's Courant Inc. and his trainer Marcus Melander figure to be in the headlines for years to come. Strom took some time to answer our litany of questions that address his background and his participation in the sport on both sides of the Atlantic Ocean. When did you first get interested in Harness Racing? When I was a kid there was an afternoon TV show with soccer and harness racing. My dad, his cousin and friends always watched it. I first got interested in soccer, then racing. When they went to the racetrack on a Sunday, I came along, and that was it. What made you decide to get into Standardbred ownership? I was first interested in betting, but as I learned more about the sport and especially the horse, ownership and eventually the breeding business took over my interest. What is your day job? Nothing, really. I run my own investment firm and Courant is one of our companies in the group. The way I see it, I am fortunate to never have had a job in the traditional fashion. I have been privileged to spend most of my days on my hobbies -- gambling and investments. You mentioned gambling a couple of times already. What do you bet on? Has that venture been profitable or more for leisure?  I used to gamble seriously when I was younger and managed to turn some profit that was the base plate for the start-up that eventually became Unibet. These days I bet on soccer, NFL and horses for leisure. I just don't find the time to be constantly updated anymore. What kind of car do you drive? I do not drive since the English driving system is left-handed. But I am a Mercedes guy. Favorite dinner meal? I like Swedish food, like it is on the Smörgåsbord. Other than that, I would say Japanese. What is your favorite track to visit? Why? Solvalla. It was my home for many years. One big regret is how the Swedish Trotting Federation tries to kill what should be a gem for harness racing fans in Sweden and Europe, like Vincennes is in France. What has the Swedish Trotting Federation done wrong in your opinion? I think the principle to keep most of the around 30 tracks open all year is wrong. There is a big need for investment and prize money adjustments. That should be done with a focus on fewer tracks and especially Solvalla, which should be the temple for harness racing like France with Vincennes and the U.S. with The Meadowlands, for example. I also think a few tracks could be closed down to leave room for investing in a new track made exclusively with a focus on TV broadcasting for the races, with a surface that is good for the horses, especially in the winter time. What race haven't you won but are hoping to in the future? I want to win the Hambletonian, but having won the Prix d'Amérique, that event is not bad either. If I had to choose one race, I really want to win the Swedish Derby for 4-year-olds. It has a $1,000,000 USD purse and the breeder and owner of the winner gets a yellow jacket. It's a little bit like the green one in golf given to the winner of the Masters at Augusta.  How often are horses or racing on your mind? Every day. What is your favorite hobby outside of harness racing? Betting on soccer. What is your favorite sport to watch? Team? Soccer -- Nottingham Forest and Chelsea Football Club, my local team. I live a 10 minute walk from their stadium. What is one thing about you most fans/bettors don't know? I am an avid amateur astronomer. Carl Sagan [American astronomer] was an early favorite. The name Fourth Dimension came from an episode in his TV show [Cosmos]. What is one word that describes harness racing for you? Subculture. Your U.S. involvement in the sport began in 2009 according to the USTA as part of Courant AB and included the Muscle Hill syndicate. What was your connection there? I believe I bought a Muscle Hill share quite early to use for breeding, but I bought Twist In The Tail before that [October 2008]. She is the second Dam to Hypnotic Am. ► Sign up for our FREE DRF Harness Digest Newsletter How does your U.S. stable compare to your European operation? They are two different systems. In the U.S. we race earlier, at ages 2 and 3, and perhaps 4. In Europe we look to develop older horses into the Open classes as there are so many races to choose from and no stakes payments. The public likes to bet horses they know, so purses are paid from betting revenue to a larger extent. Have your U.S. ventures in the sport met expectations? Not yet, but we are getting there. I would say we have a great foundation of broodmares and stallion interests to build on. Where did your stable name "Courant" come from? It is "electricity" or "stream" in French, like "ström" is in Swedish. So basically it is my surname.  All the Courant Inc. horses each year start with one letter of the alphabet, with 2022 using the letter "K". What made you choose this naming method? We follow the French naming rule. With so many horses each year it makes it easier to remember.  Sabine Kagebrant is the Courant Inc. racing manager. How vital is her role in the organization? She has an eye for horses like few others. Besides that, she works hard and is very diligent in running the day-to-day operations. We also stem from the same town in Sweden, Sala, and we have known each other for a long time. She also worked with Stefan Melander, Jörgen Westholm and Björn Goop before. All of them are good friends who we still work with.  You entrusted Marcus Melander at a young age with many of your horses. How impressed are you with the results he has produced? He is a very good young entrepreneur and I see a lot of similarities in how he, like me, moved to a new country at a young age to set up a business. He makes his own decisions, but we often discuss different aspects of the plan for the Courant horses. I appreciate that. I do not want my horse ownership experience to be that of an observer in a stable run by a wannabe grand master who never wants to have a dialogue. That would not be enjoyable. What is the best advice you've ever gotten about harness racing? You can buy on conformation only but never on pedigree only. What was your best moment in harness racing? I am waiting for that. Which is the best horse you've ever owned? Greenshoe. He is for sure the most technically advanced horse ever. What keeps you involved in the sport as an owner? The respect for the horse and the sport, and all the nice people I get to meet. How many horses do you currently own? 200. Which is the horse you are most looking forward to seeing from your stable in 2022? Kilgore from the colts. He is a full brother to Hypnotic Am. Kayleigh from the fillies. She's a full sister to Joviality.  Would you characterize Harness Racing as your hobby or job?  It is part of who I am and what I do. Mixed, would be the answer. You own some of your horses in partnership and some solo. What goes into that decision? I generally want to own solo. Only on rare occasions do I have partners.  Is it harder to have partners in terms of decision making? It could be that way and that's why I refrain from having decision-making distributed. But I don't have any problems with that now, there are only a handful horses I share with others.  How would you rate yourself as an owner? Are you laid back or more hands-on? Very laid-back. Kagebrant runs Sweden and I focus on France and USA.  How is your stallion operation in North America doing with Greenshoe, Green Manalishi and Gimpanzee? They are doing well. All are fully booked with top broodmares, and the foals by Greenshoe look amazing. We will see what happens when their offspring are ready to race in the future. I am confident.  If you had the power to change one thing in the sport, what would it be? Make betting generally available across borders, with a takeout that can match sports betting, like 5%. How do you view the future of harness racing? Very good for the top tier. Good for everyone if they can sort out better betting revenue as per my above answer. What can Swedish Harness Racing learn from the U.S. and what can the U.S. learn from them? Sweden could learn from the stakes and race programs being run for 7-8 months instead of all year. Sweden could also just copy and paste the Lexington and Harrisburg yearling sales events. Right now, there are five to six different sales in Sweden. That is too many. The U.S. could learn more about the care for the horse, and horsemen including and involving young people to get introduced to the sport. Also, The Big M [Meadowlands] should be seen as the showcase for a modern harness racing stadium.  What do you mean by a modern harness racing stadium? Easy to access, smaller and more compact area for the audience with a variety of good quality food and drink for all segments of visitors. At the same time, possibility to host a bigger audience on big race days like the Hambletonian and the Meadowlands Pace. A good TV-system and high-definition broadcast with professional hosts and the best race caller in the world in Ken Warkentin. I also love that they have a sportsbook, I just regret Kambi didn't get the contract to run it for them. Time for the stretch drive.  Best Horse you ever saw: Greenshoe -- for his relentless technical capacity. He was a 1:48 horse had the conditions been right. Muscle Hill from the previous generation had the same gait advantage. Having said that, Varenne and Viking Kronos for shown capacity must be mentioned.   Best Driver Ever: Brian Sears. I could have said Björn Goop or Örjan Kihlström, but Brian has the magic feel that not many can grasp. Best Trainer Ever: Stefan Melander. He has won everything winnable except the Swedish 4yo Derby, mostly with non-expensive horses.  Lasix -- Yes or No?: I don't know. But if you force me, no. Favorite TV Show?: Cosmos, then Friends. I am currently watching The Crown and next up is Succession. Trotters or Pacers?: Trotters, by a photo finish.